1-2-3 Writing Blog: Let's Talk About The Mirror Moment
Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.
1 WRITING IDEA
Writing a novel's midpoint is tricky. That’s why I love James Scott Bell’s Mirror Moment concept. It sits smack dab in a story's middle when your protagonist clings to the end of their proverbial rope. The character takes a hard look at their life and reflects on who they must become to succeed. This Mirror Moment pivots your story toward the decisive third act. Before writing your novel, start in the middle and work out from there.
2 WRITING QUOTES
“The main character has to figuratively look at himself, as in the “mirror” and be confronted with a disturbing truth: change or die.
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“The midpoint is what keeps your second act from dragging…. the character’s response is no longer just a reaction, but the moment at which he begins to definitively take charge of the story and act out against the antagonistic force.
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3 Writing Questions
How does your character fight death? (physical, professional, or psychological)
How does your midpoint show what your story is really all about?
How does your Mirror Moment tie into (1) what your character used to be like and (2) what they now need to be like?
About Me
Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a mean moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.